System and method of routing voice communications via peering networks

Abstract

A method of routing voice communications is disclosed and includes receiving network event data at a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server of an originating network from a plurality of peering border elements associated with a plurality of peering communication networks. The network event data indicates a health status of each of the peering communication networks. The method also includes determining a network weight related to each of the peering communication networks based on the network event data, wherein each network weight indicates a proportion of calls that are to be routed from the originating network via the related peering communication network. The method further includes dynamically assigning a plurality of preference field values to session initiation protocol (SIP) addresses of the peering border elements within a plurality of naming authority pointer (NAPTR) records, based on the network weights.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for routing voice communications, the system comprising:
 a memory that stores instructions; 
 a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving network event data from a switch associated with a peering communication network; 
 determining a network weight for the peering communication network based on the network event data; and 
 assigning, based on routing calls to the peering communication network associated with the switch in a proportion determined for the peering communication network, an order field value and a preference field value within a naming authority pointer record that includes a session initiation protocol address of the switch, wherein the proportion is based on the network weight, wherein the preference field value indicates a position in a sequence of a plurality naming authority pointer records in which the naming authority pointer record is applied to a selected call. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network weight reflects the proportion of the calls that are to be routed to the peering communication network. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise reconfiguring the naming authority pointer record when the network weight is changed. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the network weight for the peering communication when additional network event data is received. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise routing the calls to the peering communication network from an origination network. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request from a serving call session control function network element for the naming authority pointer record, wherein the request identifies a destination device communicating with the peering communication network based on a fully qualified domain name. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the naming authority pointer record to the serving call session control function network element based on the request. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the peering communication network is a least congested peering communication network of a plurality of peering communication networks. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the order field value and the preference field value within the naming authority pointer record is a lowest combination of order field and preference field values associated with the session initiation protocol address of the switch. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise halting receipt of the network event data when a network event sampling period has terminated. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the peering communication network is operating within a pre-defined parameter associated with a network health status. 
     
     
       12. A method for routing voice communications, the method comprising:
 receiving network event data from a switch associated with a peering communication network; 
 determining, by utilizing instructions from memory that are executed by a processor, a network weight for the peering communication network based on the network event data; and 
 assigning, based on routing calls to the peering communication network associated with the switch in a proportion determined for the peering communication network, an order field value and a preference field value within a naming authority pointer record that includes a session initiation protocol address of the switch, wherein the proportion is based on the network weight, wherein the preference field value indicates a position in a sequence of a plurality naming authority pointer records in which the naming authority pointer record is applied to a selected call. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the network weight for the peering communication when additional network event data is received. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising reconfiguring the naming authority pointer record when the network weight is altered. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising halting receipt of the network event data when a network event sampling period has ended. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a request the naming authority pointer record that identifies a destination device communicating with the peering communication network based on a fully qualified domain name. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting the naming authority pointer record to a serving call session control function network element based on the request. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining that the peering communication network is operating within a pre-defined parameter associated with a network health status. 
     
     
       19. A computer-readable device comprising instructions, which when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving network event data from a switch associated with a peering communication network; 
 determining a network weight for the peering communication network based on the network event data; and 
 assigning, based on routing calls to the peering communication network associated with the switch in a proportion determined fro the peering communication network, an order field value and a preference field value within a naming authority pointer record that includes a session initiation protocol address of the switch, wherein the proportion is based on the network weight, wherein the preference field value indicates a position in a sequence of a plurality naming authority pointer records in which the naming authority pointer record is applied to a selected call. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable device of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the network weight for the peering communication when additional network event data is received.